An alternative slogan if you don't like that one: Someone has to win this crappy division(from alnorth)

With the beginning of a new year, it is time for the 2012 version of the Royals Repository Thread. We've got Hosmer, we've got a 2011-dominating Gordon, we've got Moose, we've got hopefully a killer bullpen, we've got a stereotypical slow slugging DH, we've got easily one of the best defensive shortstops in the AL, we've got a promising catcher in Salvador Perez. Hell, we've got offense and promising prospects galore.

We do not have starting pitching.

Oh yeah, we've also got this:

Get ready for, (as of January 2012 anyway), one of the most confusing puzzles of a baseball season in recent Royals history. Will they suck? Maybe, I don't know. Will we be given a year of 0.500 baseball? Possibly, I don't know. Will they win the division and go to the playoffs for the first time in 27 years? For the first time in a long time, it could happen, I don't know. 92 losses, 92 wins, or anything in between would not surprise a lot of us.

Everything goes here except Gameday threads and really big news. If a giant story breaks, the Royals achieve some awesome milestone, or we sign/lose a highly significant player/coach/mascot/whatever, then it might also deserve its own thread. This being Chiefs Planet, please do not clutter the board with new threads about trivial Royals news or you will only annoy those who come here for just Chiefs football. If you aren't sure and its not a Gameday thread, it goes here.

What sort of stuff often goes here? SPchief explained it well, so I'll just copy that:

Quote:

If you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

In-depth article in the KC Star about Hochevar. Says the Royals still believe he can be a successful pitcher. Of course, the season isn't over so they have to say that, but we'll see.

The most interesting part is the back and forth between him and Eiland. Eiland wants him to stop throwing the cutter so much. Says it's affecting his other pitches. Says he has too many pitches and he needs to simplify it down to 3-4. Hochevar notes that batters hit .170 against his cutter. He also sounds like he's sick of everyone tinkering with everything he does.

Quote:

Hochevar’s resistance, which he acknowledges, stems from numerous club-prompted tweaks in the past. Former pitching coach Bob McClure worked to moderate what he viewed as an over-aggressive approach. (That remains a problem; more on that in a bit.)

Midway through the 2011 season, Yost called for greater variance in pitch location, specifically seeking an increase at throwing inside. Now, Eiland wants a reduced arsenal.

“It’s the easier way,” Hochevar said, “to just start tweaking things or changing things – things that aren’t a factor. Sometimes it takes more courage to stay the course as opposed to saying, ‘I’m going to try something completely different.’”

Hochevar agrees that his cutter can lead to bad habits on other pitches but argues the solution is to eliminate the bad habits, not the cutter.

“I really don’t think it matters what pitch you’re throwing if you execute it,” he said. “A good pitch is a good pitch. It doesn’t matter if it’s cutting, sinking, four-seaming, curving, sliding…

“If you go out and execute, that’s the bottom line. And that’s where my mind is because I’ve been down that road too many times. Oh, this is it. Or here it is. This is the ticket right here…No. When you’re set is when you’re making good pitches.”

Eiland’s response: “How successful have you been doing it this way? Tell me.”

The debate continues.

There is no argument regarding Hochevar’s competitive fire. It is that quality, plus his stuff, that keeps the Royals convinced that he can eventually harness his gifts. But that aggressiveness has a dark side that surfaces in a tendency to surrender big innings.

“No matter what he’s throwing,” Eiland said, “when he gets in trouble, he tends to overthrow. He wants to make his good stuff even better. He starts pulling his head off-line, the shoulder comes up, the arm slot drops, and he gets on the side of all of his pitches.

“It happens when he’s really trying to make a good, quality pitch rather than just staying within himself, trusting his delivery, trusting his ability and trusting his stuff. Sometimes, I don’t think he gives his stuff enough credit.”

In-depth article in the KC Star about Hochevar. Says the Royals still believe he can be a successful pitcher. Of course, the season isn't over so they have to say that, but we'll see.

The most interesting part is the back and forth between him and Eiland. Eiland wants him to stop throwing the cutter so much. Says it's affecting his other pitches. Says he has too many pitches and he needs to simplify it down to 3-4. Hochevar notes that batters hit .170 against his cutter. He also sounds like he's sick of everyone tinkering with everything he does.

interesting. i remember listening to Hoch on the radio after one of his decent games back in late June i think? They were talking about this same thing basically...tinkering with his mechanics......he didnt sound very pleased, and to be honest, i hated his attitude.

I hope the Royals just decide to cut their losses with this turd.

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Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning:

Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down.

interesting. i remember listening to Hoch on the radio after one of his decent games back in late June i think? They were talking about this same thing basically...tinkering with his mechanics......he didnt sound very pleased, and to be honest, i hated his attitude.

I hope the Royals just decide to cut their losses with this turd.

With him having this attitude they just might, looks like we could finally be rid of ho shaver for good.

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"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."

That article about Hoch tells me all I need to know about the current management of the Royals and Hoch himself. Here is a guy that can't get anyone out yet he does not want to take any instruction in hopes of helping him succeed. Instead he would rather do it his way and continue to give up 5 to 7 runs in his normal 5 inning effort.

Secondly, the fact that the management thinks this can can succeed only reinforces the fact they are all a bunch of full blown retards.